Shoddy road repair work irks residents in Bokajan

A Correspondent

Bokajan, June 27: Residents of No. 3 Dilawjan under Sarupathar MAC constituency in East Karbi Anglong are venting ire against the shoddy road repair work executed by the contractor, raising questions on the standard and quality of the materials used to relay the 13- km road connecting Japrajan to Ramanagar under jurisdiction of the Sarhiajan Assistant Executive Engineer, PWD(R). The road which is undergoing repair has already developed cracks and has started wearing out, indicating severe lapses on the part of the contractor and the department officials. “The thin blacktopped layer laid barely a couple of days back can now be peeled off the surface with bare hands,” said a resident on condition of anonymity. “Lax in supervision by the department engineers and apathy of the public representatives concerned at inspecting the developmental projects have boosted the morale of the erring contractors at executing sub-standard work and doubling up profit,” he added.

Earlier last month, the relaying works of old ND road witnessed a similar flaw on the part of the contractor and the department officials. However, the MLA intervened to find out that the road was sanctioned under PMGSY in the erstwhile Congress regime and was left undone due to reasons best known to the contractor. The hill district of Karbi Anglong lacks the basic amenities of health, education and connectivity and has witnessed a slow pace of development projects. Bad roads and poor connectivity has severely affected the poor tribals of the district. Recently, a pregnant woman died on her way due to delay in reaching the hospital for delivery.

Monjir Hansepi of No. 2 Phaklangso under Bokajan Police Station was undergoing labour pain when her family members tried to shift her to the hospital but she died on way. The delay was caused as family members had to carry her for three kilometres on foot to reach the highway. Even 108 service of the health department could not access the unmotorable road to the villages, a few kilometres from NH-39.

This grim reality paints a bleak picture of the present day situation in the hill district of Karbi Anglong. The administration needs to find a realistic way to deal with the growing crisis. An action plan for the overall socio-economic development of the interior areas at par with the mainland is the need of the hour.